Welcome...
…to the winter 2012
issue of the Going
Places newsletter.
This newsletter is for all
customers and partners
of the Housing Need and
Support Service, including
Homechoice, Housing
Options, Resettlement
and Temporary
Accommodation. We hope
you enjoy reading this
newsletter. If you have any
comments or suggestions
for articles in the future,
please contact us via the
details on the back page.

The new Allocations
Policy is on its way!
To keep in line with national guidance the Council
is making some changes to the Allocations Policy,
including a new points system, which is easier to
understand with fewer categories.
The main changes are:
• higher priority for people down-sizing from a house to a
smaller property (to help free up more homes);
• higher priority for overcrowded applicants;
• higher priority for those who have been in the armed forces
and in housing need;
• higher priority for customers working 16 hours per week or
more; and
• some additional priority for people volunteering for at least
eight hours or in training for at least 16 hours per week.
All Homechoice applications will be re-assessed in line
with the new policy and customers will receive a letter
to advise them of their new points level.

!
Changes
to benefits

Welfare Reform

There are also some changes to the size of
property certain applicants will be eligible for
due to the Welfare Reform changes that will be
introduced by the Government in 2013.

• Applicants who have access to children will no longer be
eligible for a two bedroomed property unless they can
demonstrate they are able to afford a larger property as
Housing Benefit will be restricted to one bedroom rate. Proof
of income will be required.
• Two children of different sexes under the age of 10 years
will be expected to share a bedroom. This change has been
made to reflect Housing Benefit guidelines.

i
2

If you have any enquiries about the new policy changes,
please contact the Homechoice Team on 0161 474 2975
or email homechoice@stockporthomes.org

The Housing Options Team has launched
a new web-based personalised Housing
Options Action Plan.
The website allows you to get information on:
• buying a property through shared ownership;
• doing a mutual exchange if you are an existing
Stockport Homes or housing association tenant;
• renting a property from a private landlord or
lettings agent;
• applying for social housing such as through
Homechoice;
• accessing supported housing;
• applying for adapted housing or help with
making adaptations to your current property;
and
• accessing sheltered housing properties.

www.stockporthomes.org

You can also find information on jobs and
training, money or benefits, homelessness
prevention, the Government’s Mortgage
Rescue Scheme and disrepair at the click of a
button.
The website is easy to use, personalised to
meet your individual needs and provides you
with the necessary information to explore the
options specific to you.

i

For more information, see the
Stockport Homes website or visit
stockporthomes.ehodirect.org.uk

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

3

homechoice

Homechoice prospects

Providing rented homes throughout Stockport

Information about property demand
Homechoice advertise properties on
a weekly basis. Property details are
available on the Homechoice website
and at the area offices, libraries and
advice centres throughout the Borough.
Once customers are registered, bids can be made
provided they are eligible for the size and type of
property and they meet any restrictions which
may apply (for example, age restrictions).
Due to the high demand for social housing and
the low number of vacancies customers need to
be as flexible as possible about areas and types of
property they will consider. Unfortunately many
applicants are unsuccessful with their bids.

Bid online.
Visit:

searchforahome.stockporthomes.org

Bid over
the phone:

0161 474 4567

The information below may help you when
deciding what properties to bid for:

Number of customers currently registered for each size of property:

1 bed

3,760
customers

2 bed

customers

782

3 bed

9

5 bed

118

4 bed

1

6 bed

customers

customers

customers

4

2,462

customer

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

www.stockporthomes.org

homechoice

Homechoice prospects
Number of properties
advertised and number of
bids received by property
type in the last 12 months:
Family sized accommodation
always attracts high numbers of
bids and two bedroomed houses
in particular always receive a lot of
bids in comparison to other types
and sizes of property.
Please note that these are
averages and some properties will
be let on lower or higher points.
Areas which have fewer properties
becoming available are usually let
at higher levels of points.

Type

No. of
No. of
Average points
properties bids
properties let
advertised received for in the last
12 months

Studio

65

2,013

32

1 bed bungalow

35

623

23

1 bed flat

209

8,022

29

1 bed multi-storey 180

6,462

35

2 bed flat

95

4,499

41

2 bed house

95

10,836

53

2 bed maisonette

18

864

45

2 bed multi-storey 118

2,649

37

3 bed house

129

5,326

42

3 bed maisonette

7

101

41

3 bed multi-storey 32

260

34

4 bed house

1

29

40

Total

984

41,624

53

114
bids on
average

2 bed house

2 bed multi-storey

We received

average
points

41,624
bids in the last
12 months.

42

41

bids on
average

average
points

37

22

bids on
average

Providing rented homes throughout Stockport

3 bed house

www.stockporthomes.org

average
points

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

5

Volunteering, training and employment news

Jackie receiving her STAR award

Rachel Coyle receiving Green Star Award
Following on from her highly commended
runner-up position as Tenant / Resident of
the Year at the Northern Region TPAS Awards,
Strathclyde House volunteer Jackie Myerscough
has gone on to enjoy the same success at both
the NFA Awards and Stockport Homes Star
Awards – well done Jackie!
The icing on the cake for Jackie and her fellow
volunteers though was winning the Green Star
Award for their joint hard work across all three
of the Temporary Accommodation Schemes.
The temporary accommodation volunteers
have gone above and beyond expectations
since commencing work over the last year,
contributing over 1,100 hours of their own
time to developing allotments and gardens,
6

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

co-ordinating FareShare food distribution,
learning painting and decorating skills, and even
setting up a fish tank for residents to enjoy at
Strathclyde House.
Despite its sometimes physically challenging
nature, this work gives people a real chance to
get involved and have fun. The volunteers clearly
deserve recognition for working so selflessly to
improve the lives of people who are homeless.
Well done to:
•
•
•
•

Mark Beese
Paul Colduck
Chervorne Garner
Keith Goldstraw

•
•
•
•

Stuart Meakin
Jackie Myerscough
Amy Smith
Rachel Coyle

www.stockporthomes.org

Resettlement Services news

Stockport Homes’
Lettings Service

0161 218 1083
Stockport Homes’ Lettings Service helps
households in housing need access properties
within the private sector. The demand for social
housing has risen and there are not enough
houses to keep up with this demand. By working
with landlords in the private sector we aim to
increase the properties available to rent and give
tenants wider choice in their housing options.

Example kitchen from a two bedroom flat

EXPERT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Within the first four months of the service we

Unlike other lettings agents we do not charge
fees to tenants who rent a property through
Stockport Homes’ Lettings Service. We are
not driven by profit, but rather have the best
interests of landlords and tenants as our primary
motivation.

let 20 properties. We set up 14 tenancies which
helped single people, couples and families
move into suitable accommodation. We have
properties currently available and will be
continuing to expand the service.

Are you looking to get into work?
Are you aged over 16?
If you answered yes to the above and
you are receiving one of the following
benefits then we can help you.
•
•
•
•

Income Support
Jobseekers Allowance
Employment Support Allowance
Carer’s Allowance

We can help with issues that may have
been a barrier to employment such as:
• family concerns – parenting,
relationship issues;
• self-confidence and communication
difficulties; and
• lack of training and work experience.

www.stockporthomes.org

The support provided through this service so far has
enabled customers:
• to access work ‘taster’ placement schemes to
improve their employment skills and obtain
references for job applications;
• to access anxiety management and confidence
building courses (for people with mental health needs
or who struggle to engage socially); and
• to take up volunteering opportunities.
Please note: This programme is voluntary and
will not affect your benefits.
For more information, please contact Asaf
Iqbal Baz (Resettlement Officer) or Biff Reston
(Resettlement Officer) on 0161 474 3772 or
email resettlement.team@stockporthomes.org

i

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

7

Temporary Accommodation news
Buxton Road garden project
Buxton Road’s garden project has been buzzing
this summer, making it a greener and cleaner
place. Staff and residents have worked hard
clearing all the rubbish in the garden and filling
the flower beds with compost.
Residents have enjoyed fresh sugar snap peas
along with carrots, beetroot and spring onion.
These fresh healthy ingredients have been
well used at cooking nights at the scheme. We
also donated some of our supplies to a local
Sheltered Housing Scheme for older people.
The garden now has a professional look about
it, with the addition of a greenhouse and shed.

Work still continues with the
project thanks to funding from
Manchester Airport, and the
garden has become a great venue
for BBQ’S involving the staff and residents. All that
hard work is starting to pay off; hopefully next
summer will give us enough sun to get the last
bits finished!
Article by Jason Sharp,
Project Worker Assistant

Strathclyde House goes
red, white and blue
Hundreds of sandwiches and scones
were made by residents and staff for
Strathclyde House’s Traditional English Tea
to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee.
It provided a good opportunity for current
and former residents to catch up and
children to get together to enjoy a fun
packed afternoon, and the delights of a
traditional English trifle.
The bouncy castle was a huge hit, and
residents were able to take part in fun
games and activities, including a hula
hoop contest and egg and spoon races.
Article by Katherine Tandy,
Project Worker Assistant
8

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

www.stockporthomes.org

Temporary Accommodation news
Buxton Road Olympic Celebrations

At 8am on 24 June the A6 filled with rows and
rows of people (including residents and staff)
waiting for the Olympic torch.
The torch procession started to approach; first
was a coach holding all the torch bearers, with
waves and clapping from all in attendance,
followed by decorated trucks, music,
dancers and flags. This added to the electric
atmosphere as the Olympic torch came by held
by Claudia Thomas.

At this point the crowd, the staff and the
residents went crazy, cheering, clapping and
waving. We heard some more cheering behind
us; we turned to see that other residents had
been woken by the noise and were celebrating
from their windows!
This momentous occasion set a great vibe for the
day with the staff and residents enjoying a brew
and chatting before starting their days.

Man Utd vs Galatasaray
Thanks to the hard work of Project
Worker Elaine Prendiville and the
generosity of the Manchester United
Foundation, residents from the
Temporary Accommodation Schemes
received 19 tickets to attend the Manchester
United vs Galatasaray Champions League match
on 19 September.
The atmosphere inside Old Trafford was amazing
as everyone sang and cheered along with
the 74,653 others present. At the end United
fans walked away happy with a win, and all
the residents commented on how much they
enjoyed the trip, sending a letter of thanks to the
Manchester United Foundation.
www.stockporthomes.org

Alongside this match Buxton Road residents
have continued taking part in Stockport Street
Soccer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where one day we might see the
footballing starts of the future!
Articles by Jason Sharp,
Project Worker Assistant
Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

9

Temporary Accommodation news

Strathclyde
artists
Some residents have
been
busy producing som
e works
of art. The canvas ar
twork
has been a great way
of
expressing feelings ab
out
homelessness in a cr
eative
way, whilst socialisin
g at
Strathclyde House.

Egg-cellent Easter at Brindale House
The annual Easter party was
held on Thursday 5 April.
Mark Halstead from Repair
1st organised an Easter egg
collection amongst staff and
suppliers.
Everyone enjoyed a room full
of bunting and balloons, and
a selection of party food and
drinks before making some
Easter bonnets and cards. This
was followed by an Easter egg
hunt.
10

The grand finale was the
arrival of the Easter bunny
to distribute the donated
Easter eggs and have
photographs taken with
the children. The residents
are already asking about
next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party!

Article by Becky Furness,
Student Social Worker

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

www.stockporthomes.org

H3 news

Helping the
Homeless into
Housing

When H3 became a registered charity in early 2012, it brought
together a winning combination of temporary accommodation
residents, staff working with the homeless, and other agencies.
All of these are now sharing their strengths and resources to
develop enhanced provision for people who are homeless.

H3 gets on-line

Charity number – 1147113

Rags to Riches

Thanks to funding from
Trafford Hall Tenants
Resource Centre,
H3 has purchased
two new notebooks
equipped with Wi-Fi access.
The notebooks have been used to produce
the charity’s website which, as well as
developing the Committee Members’ new
IT skills, will showcase the great work H3 is
doing in Stockport for homeless people.

H3 is embarking
on an exciting new
project to collect
unwanted clothing,
shoes, boots,
trainers, belts,
handbags, bedding,
curtains and textiles from the residents of
Stockport. So far an eye-watering 84 stones
worth of clothing has been donated!
H3 will be working to recycle all donations to
provide:
• much needed clothing to the homeless,
many of whom are living in temporary
accommodation schemes;
• classes to educate homeless people
in repairing and prolonging the life of
clothing; and
• workshops on how to recycle material.

The charity can now dedicate more time to:
• ensuring that the content is easy to find,
up-to-date and appealing;
• encouraging visitors to make donations to
the charity via Local Giving; and
• developing a social media presence
through Facebook and Twitter.

Working with easy-go

H3 is now delighted to announce that it has
begun working in partnership with easy-go,
a local community transport initiative. This
valuable service will help homeless families
move on to their new homes.

www.h-3.org.uk

Where clothing cannot be reused the
material is sold to generate funds to provide
homeless people with basic household
items and FareShare food, an initiative which
makes use of surplus products from the food
and drink industry.

i

To donate any items or for more
information, please contact Vijay
Chauhan, H3 Support and Development
Officer on 07800 618 628 or email
vijay.chauhan@stockporthomes.org

You said, we did
Following your suggestions, we have made the
following improvements:

Barclays Bank have agreed to attend
customer meetings to give advice
on setting up bank accounts before
Universal Credit starts.

The Resettlement exit
form will have more
sections highlighted and
in bold where customers
have suggested there are
important details. The
Homechoice advert is
now more colourful, with
clearly divided sections
making it easier to see
which properties you can
bid for.

Thanks to funding from
Vernon Building Society
craft sessions will be held
more regularly at Temporary
Accommodation Schemes.

New PVC windows with
restrictors are being installed
at Strathclyde House.

The Pre-Tenancy Workshops have been
changed to become one-off sessions,
still covering all the essentials on
moving in to a new home.
12

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

www.stockporthomes.org

Decisions about
homelessness

Facts and figures

Full rehousing duty owed
Not priority need
Intentionally
homeless

Housing Options

Not homeless
0

From April 2012 – September 2012

20

40

60

80

100 120 140

Left accommodation
provided by Home
Office

Reasons for ‘full duty’ /
priority homelessness

The following facts and figures are designed
to show you how the services represented
in this newsletter are performing against
standards agreed with you, our customers,
and give an overview of what is happening
here in Stockport.

Rehousing Services – Local Standards:
The Housing Options and Homechoice Teams are
very busy services; despite this the teams strive
to ensure that customers are provided with
good quality support. As a result Local Standards
have been drawn up in consultation with our
customers, and in accordance with national
requirements. These are available on our website

www.stockporthomes.org and in a leaflet
format on request – just contact the relevant
team via the details in this newsletter.
From April – September 2012, all our Local
Standards were

on target.

Temporary accommodation:
Temporary accommodation in Stockport is in
high demand; Stockport Homes works hard
to ensure people are provided with advice to
prevent them from becoming homeless, and

where this cannot be stopped it aims to ensure
that they are helped to move on to their own
accommodation as quickly as possible.

Number accommodated:

Average length of stay (days):

0

20

40

60

80

100

www.stockporthomes.org

Families

Families

Single men

Single men

Single women
/ mums and
babies

Single women
/ mums and
babies

0

20

40

60

80

100

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

13

Facts and figures
Repairs at Temporary Accommodation Schemes:
Making the Temporary Accommodation
Schemes pleasant and safe places to live
depends upon making sure repairs are done to a
high standard and on time.

Percent of repairs complete within target:

99%
100%

To help with this, residents are involved in
health and safety checks and encouraged to
report faults whenever they see them and are
involved in monitoring performance and making
suggestions for improvements to the repairs
process.

98%
20

40

60

80

Single men
Single women
/ mums and
babies

97%

0

Families and
offsite

Overall

100

Resettlement Service:
3,026.5 hours

The Resettlement Team provide support to
new and existing tenants in setting up and
maintaining their homes. This support can
be for up to two years, depending on the
tenantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs and whether they wish to
continue being involved with the service.

of resettlement support were provided.

3,014.75 hours

of tenancy support were provided.

At the end of this period of the
92 Resettlement cases closed:
82 were successful
6 remained in properties but disengaged
1 moved into supported accommodation
1 fled to refuge
1 moved back to parents
1 moved into private accommodation

14

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

www.stockporthomes.org

t
Ac w !
no

Welfare Reform news

!
Changes
to benefits

Welfare Reform
Reduction for people
under-occupying

Direct Payment of
Housing Benefit

From April 2013, the amount of
Housing Benefit (HB) paid to working
age tenants who have spare bedrooms
in their homes will be reduced.

Currently Housing Benefit can be paid
directly to the Stockport Homes. In future,
this is going to change so that payments will
be made directly to tenants.

If you are of working age, and have a spare
room, you will have your HB reduced if you
are one of the following groups:

Although there will be some exceptions for
vulnerable people, it is essential all tenants
have a way of paying their rent as soon as they
receive their payment.

• If you are single, and live in a two (or
more) bedroomed property
• Couples living alone in two (or more)
bedroomed properties
• Families in three (or more) bedroomed
accommodation where children could
share a bedroom in other words, two
same sex children aged under 16, or
two aged under 10 regardless of sex.
At the moment, you will lose around £12
to £22 per week, depending on how many
spare rooms you have.

www.stockporthomes.org

This could have a big impact on the way tenants
manage their money, so it is important that you
start to think now about how the changes might
affect you. There are some things you could
consider, such as getting a bank account, paying
your rent by direct debit, budgeting regularly, or
doing a financial health check. Stockport Homes
can help you with all of these.
If you are worried about how these
changes will affect you, or if you need any
further advice or information, contact the
Social Inclusion Team on 0161 474 2854 or visit
www.stockporthomes.org/welfarereform

i

Going Places - Issue 18 Winter 2012

15

Get in touch
Opening hours for the Housing
Information Centre:
Monday:

8.30am – 4.30pm

Tuesday:

9.30am – 4.30pm

Useful numbers:

Wednesday: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Thursday:

8.30am – 4.30pm

Friday:

9.30am – 4.00pm

To see when our offices are open around Christmas,
please visit our website www.stockporthomes.org
or see the posters in reception areas.

Housing Options Team

0161 474 4237

Housing Options (out-of-hours) 0161 477 2626

Housing
Information
Centre
St Petersgate
Mersey Square

Homechoice bidding line

0161 474 4567

Homechoice enquiries line

0161 474 2975

Resettlement Team

0161 474 3772

Housing Benefit

0161 217 6015

Citizens Advice Bureau

0870 120 4040

Stockport Advice

0161 217 6009

Greater Manchester
St Peter’s Square

Domestic Abuse helpline

Accessing our services
If you would like a copy of
this newsletter in large print,
Braille, on audio tape or CD,
please contact the Social
Inclusion Team on 0161 474
2860 or email inclusion@
stockporthomes.org
A free interpreting service
is available if you need
help with this newsletter.
Please telephone Stockport
Interpreting Unit on
0161 477 9000.
Email eds.admin@
stockport.gov.uk